Baby Rhino Pictured ‘Smiling’ Following Attack By Poachers That He Survived

A baby rhino has been captured on camera, smiling as its mother recovers from a horrific attack by poachers.

Jacques Matthysen

The baby rhino survived a vicious attack on its pregnant mother, and is so happy she’s making a recovery, he constantly ‘smiles’, as pictured at the Kariega Game Reserve in South Africa.

The images were captured by Jacques Matthysen, who works at the reserve, following the attack.

Jacques Matthysen

The poachers were after its mother’s horn, which is used in medicine in some Asian countries, and can fetch high prices.

In 2014 a massive 1,215 rhinos were killed by poachers in South Africa, one every eight hours. Charity Save the Rhino say deaths could overtake births between 2016-2018 if the killing continues at its current rate.